Lauren B.
Scout
ScoutSan Mateo Memorial Park
La Honda
La Honda is a super cool town. The Park was secluded and lots of shade
Best Dog-Friendly Camping near La Honda, CA
Ben Ries Campground near Pescadero permits dogs in all 40 campsites divided evenly between drive-in and walk-in locations. Several pet-friendly campgrounds operate around La Honda with varying amenities for pets and their owners. Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA accommodates pets at tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts with full hookups available. Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground allows leashed pets with restrictions on beach access. Campsites throughout the area feature picnic tables, fire pits, and animal-resistant food storage containers for safety. Banana slugs are prevalent in the area, requiring pet owners to monitor their animals during hikes to prevent unwanted wildlife encounters.
Redwood forests surround many pet-friendly sites, providing shaded camping environments with moderate temperatures even during summer months. Hiking trails connect directly to several campgrounds, offering dog-friendly exploration opportunities through fern-covered terrain and among towering redwoods. The coastal location means weather remains cool year-round with evening temperatures typically in the 55-59 degree range, comfortable for most dog breeds. Nearby Pescadero offers limited veterinary and pet supply access with a small grocery store for basic provisions. Campers consistently report quiet, respectful neighbors more interested in nature enjoyment than partying, creating a peaceful environment for dogs sensitive to noise. During winter months, campers should prepare for damp conditions as redwood canopies create a misty environment rather than direct rainfall.
Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near La Honda, California (92)
1. Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED
34 ReviewsBoulder Creek, CA11 milesWebsite+1 (831) 338-8860$35 / night
"Near the bathroom, wash room, garbage dumpsters. The only con was the windy road! I eat sour patch kids to help with getting car sick. Easy to find. The site is pet friendly."
"We stayed here with our 2 dogs last November as a nice winter getaway from L.A. We got one of the tent cabins, which are just adorable and so cozy."
2. Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park - CLOSED INDEFINITELY
18 ReviewsPescadero, CA8 milesWebsite+1 (650) 879-2040$35 / night
"It is a smaller park than many of the other redwoods parks in Northern California, so it was very nice and peaceful. Butano is a bit off the beaten path to get to, but so worth it."
"Large, user-friendly campsites surrounded by redwood trees. Great ferny hiking trails for every level of camper/hiker. Very easy access to campsites and near Pescadero and Highway One."
3. Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground
27 ReviewsHalf Moon Bay, CA14 milesWebsite+1 (650) 726-8819$35 - $165 / night
"We rarely make reservations to camp in California Beach Parks, as they are usually filled up weeks or even months in advance."
"No dogs allowed in the beach in the park but a short walk away there is a public beach that is dog friendly, so that was nice for our doggo."
4. Sanborn County Park
20 ReviewsSaratoga, CA12 milesWebsite+1 (408) 867-9959$33 / night
"This is a nice camping away from the car experience. It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites."
"First of all, I did not realize before arriving that the tent sites are walk-in (my fault). That made it difficult to find, but probably not if you know that before."
5. Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA
16 ReviewsPescadero, CA12 milesWebsite+1 (650) 879-7302$100 - $200 / night
"Very clean, well maintained, and about a 20 minute walk to the ocean. Decent takeout from the restaurant and great cocktails! Very convenient dog park."
"But for a quick weekend jaunt for RV campers, this location slightly more than an hour from the Bay Area is hard to beat."
6. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
43 ReviewsMount Hermon, CA23 milesWebsite+1 (831) 438-2396$7 - $35 / night
"Dogs allowed, but can’t bring them into bathrooms. Flush toilets and coin showers, I think about 1 quarter per minute."
"This is a nice campground in a great part of California with lots of hiking and beaches nearby. The bathrooms were clean and well kept."
7. Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
12 ReviewsNewark, CA18 milesWebsite+1 (888) 327-2757$45 - $65 / night
"What they do have are scores of hookup sites for $60 / night and three tent / drive-in no hookup water-only sites for $45 / night."
"Since it's a new campground, the trees are young and don't supply much shade, but since it's close to the SF Bay, the bay breeze helps."
8. Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort
22 ReviewsFelton, CA22 milesWebsite+1 (831) 335-8312"They are a bit narrow, so much of the camp side you will have a close look at your neighbors utilities. When the park is full, it is close. Go on weekdays, not as busy and more room is likely."
"Do not take highway 9 from Santa Cruz as the RV park will tell you. Our car navigation changed our route even after we were approaching 17 north. Keep your eyes out for the highway signs."
9. Trailer Villa RV Park
4 ReviewsRedwood City, CA12 milesWebsite+1 (650) 366-7880"Clean, has some views from far border of the hills but the spots are tight and there is not much to do but hook-up."
"After-hours check-in was a breeze, as the checkin instructions were taped to the main door of the office at the park entrance."
10. New Brighton State Beach Campground
44 ReviewsCapitola, CA30 milesWebsite+1 (831) 464-6330$35 - $185 / night
"Camped with electricity and water, situated on a bluff near the ocean. Easy walking distance to the water, nice roomy campsites with fire rings and tables. Not too close to other campers."
"Not sure why the reserve california site says every SP or SB on the coast has 0 sites for the foreseeable future, but we decided to take our chances. Yes!"
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near La Honda, CA
68 Photos of 92 La Honda Campgrounds
Sky W.
SkyWanda Sanctuary
Cristina A.
Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED
Rowan B.
Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA
Debbie R.
Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground
Raven P.
Pillar Point RV Park
Patrick J.
Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort
susan R.
Smithwoods RV Park
Judith P.
Santa Cruz Ranch Campground
Eric J.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
Aidan P.
Van Life Campgrounds @ Enchanted Forest
Tom H.
San Francisco RV Resort
Stacie L.
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near La Honda, CA
781 Reviews of 92 La Honda Campgrounds
- DDavid C.
TravelerUvas Pines RV Park
Nice place with a great dog park
This park has mostly long-term residents. It was super quiet, though there was a somewhat noisy road next to us. We were on the first site next to the road, so I suspect it would be a non issue for most of the sites.
The dog park is extremely well-maintained. Beautiful grass, very nice fence, a bench to sit on, water for your pets and plenty of space to run.
There a really nice stream to hike along. And underneath a bridge there are bat houses. We went under there at sundown and watched the bats come out. Strongly recommended!
The lady who runs the place was extremely nice and helpful.
Full hook-ups and relatively large, gravel sites with some shade. However, I needed to raise one wheel about 5 inches and another 2 to get level.
Short drive to downtown Morgan hill or Gilroy. And there’s a Camping World as well.
- CCindy and Russell C.Scout
Uvas Pines RV Park
A slice of heaven in the bay area
We visited the first week of December 2020. The staff was helpful and the grounds were well maintained. Flat easy pull through with full hook-ups. Definitely in a canyon around the corner from Thousand Trails. You can see the stars at night and it is a very quiet campground. We were surprised at all the high-end rigs there, some full-timers. A nice dog park area and a stroll along the creek - our dog loved it. They recycle and are very environmentally aware. No pool or playground but lovely nature away from the hustle and bustle of silicon valley. It is about 6 miles to shopping and many restaurants. A very easy drive off the highway if you take the Tennant Road exit.
travelingdancer X.TravelerThousand Trails Morgan Hill
Loved it
Dog park, nice showers, nice bathrooms, trails to walk your dog, nice people, quiet.
I loved it here.
If you have a thousand trails membership ($52/month) then you get to stay at this campsite for free (up to 14 days) worth it
- ccourtney A.Scout
Marina Dunes RV Park
It’ll work..
The campsites specifically are nice, but the campground was very disappointing. Lots of freeway noise, amenities were disappointing (fitness center was only open until 9-5?), dog park was closed, beach requires a brutal walk through soft sand. It’ll work as a landing point for a couple nights, but don’t plan on this being a nice campground to enjoy your vacation at.
- M
Mark M.
LegendCoyote Valley RV Resort
Buttoned up, formal atmosphere RV resort
High priced. Nice people at desk. Damon who helped us park was very friendly. Almost entirely high-priced big rigs, some of whom seem settled here but it's clean, 'orderly,' very quiet. Rigid rules keep the order; nice that no political flags/signs allowed. 2 dog parks and lots of grassy areas to take for a walk. Showers in locker-room/bldg, bathrooms nice and clean. Green grass. Also has laundry with 2.50 wash and.25 dry for 8 min. Skunk wandered by site in the night. Cool train sounds from nearby tracks at night. Was probably the most convenient to San Jose, otherwise we likely would've been in mtns. and too far away from town for our needs at the time. Would not be a regular choice for us.
Roxanna L.
GuideUvas Pines RV Park
Morgan Hill, CA Would definitely stay again
Medium sized campground. Huge roomy sites. Busy little park with lots of vehicles going in and out all the time. Nice walking trail by creek for you and your furry buddy. Dog park was large and ours loved it. Close see to Morgan Hill which is a quaint friendly little town. We made a booking mistake and they were actually able to move some people around to accommodate us. Laundry room was extremely small but clean and functional. They have propane available. Friendly and very helpful staff. Would stay again if in area.
Andrea A.TravelerSanta Cruz North-Costanoa KOA
Great if you know what to expect
We had a very nice stay for a long weekend. The pull through spaces are extremely tight to the point that our slide out was hitting vegetation and our neighbors awning was about two feet from our Rv. But, if you expect that, it’s a great place to stay. Very clean, well maintained, and about a 20 minute walk to the ocean. Decent takeout from the restaurant and great cocktails! Very convenient dog park. We had almost the entire row to ourselves after checkout on Sunday. We will definitely return for the full experience when all restrictions are lifted, but will leave our two big dogs at home as there wasn’t much space for them.
BRIAN O.GuidePillar Point RV Park
Pricey, but worth it
Great spot right off the highway and on the beach. Lots of activities and places to eat within walking distance. Surfing, walking/bike trails, kayaking….Pet friendly
Guide to La Honda
Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains at approximately 400 feet elevation, La Honda offers pet friendly camping options surrounded by coastal redwoods and fog-influenced microclimates. The region features several campgrounds within a 20-mile radius that welcome pets, with most campsites requiring advance reservations during peak season from May through September.
What to do
Hiking with dogs: Several trails connect to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground where pets can join you on designated paths. "We stayed here for a night and thought that it was a clean campground. Our site was on the smaller side, but it accommodated us all. There were a few trails that started from the campground, which was nice," reports Queenie M.
Beach exploration: Take your leashed pets to explore coastal areas near Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground. "Short walk to the beach. You can walk for miles on the beach or on the bluff trails. Everyone is laidback which makes for a peaceful experience. Great sunsets!!" shares Jill F. Note that while dogs aren't permitted on state beach areas, nearby Poplar Beach allows off-leash dogs.
Visit local farms: Within a 15-minute drive from many campgrounds, you can explore agricultural areas with pet-friendly outdoor spaces. The Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA provides good access to these areas. One visitor noted, "The campground is very close to PCH/Highway 1 and the beaches are lovely. PCH is also dotted with farms and fruit stands, artisan pies, etc."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the layout at Ben Ries Campground where pet owners can find room for their animals. "Large, user-friendly campsites surrounded by redwood trees. Great ferny hiking trails for every level of camper/hiker. Very easy access to campsites and near Pescadero and Highway One," writes Renee W.
Reliable weather: The coastal location provides consistent temperatures even in summer. "Great weather, lots of shade at the campsite and on the hikes. Coast was a cool 60's-70's but warm in the sun, night time was a lovely 55-59 degrees, easy to sleep, not too cold," explains a visitor.
Wildlife viewing: The redwood ecosystem offers unique animal sightings for naturalists and their pets. At Ben Ries Campground, Cecil K. observed: "We did purchase firewood from the campground, and saw quite a few large banana slugs." Bird watching opportunities are also abundant throughout the area, particularly in coastal wetlands.
What you should know
Limited facilities: Many pet-friendly sites have basic amenities. At Sanborn County Park, "The bathrooms are pretty clean, flush toilets, no showers, no hot water and no soap. There is potable water throughout the campground, recycle bins, trash bins (animal proof) and bear lockers and firepits at each site," according to one camper.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially from spring through fall. Weekends fill quickly, sometimes months in advance. Sites with pet accommodations often book first.
Crumb-free camping: Several campgrounds enforce strict food storage rules. At Ben Ries, a camper noted, "It is a crumb-free park and they take it very seriously." Pet owners should pack appropriate containers for pet food to prevent wildlife encounters.
Tips for camping with families
Consider tent cabins: For families with pets who want less setup, look into options at some campgrounds. "We stayed in a cabin in the huckleberry campground. The cabins were nice, and each cabin has 2 double beds, a table, and a wood stove. It can get cold at night in the redwoods so the wood stove was great at night," shares Kim P. from Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Plan for coastal fog: Morning fog is common, especially in summer months. Pack appropriate layers for pets and children since temperatures can feel cooler than forecast.
Explore nearby attractions: When camping with pets and kids, having nearby activities helps. The Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay offers convenient access to family-friendly sites. "There's a great playground if you have small kids, and lots of gentle hiking trails. If you hate wind, you should know it can get windy here," notes N V.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: RV campers seeking full services should check specifics before booking. At Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA, "Full hook-ups are available, there is an on site restaurant and outdoor bar, and there is close proximity to multiple beaches and tide pools," explains Daniel D.
Access considerations: Mountain roads to some campgrounds can be challenging for larger rigs. Sites closer to Highway 1 generally offer better RV access but may have less shade and more road noise.
Campsite privacy: RV sites vary widely in terms of privacy and spacing. "We liked how wooded this campground is and is close to nearby towns! Our paved site was decently unlevel," reports Hattie R. about New Brighton State Beach Campground, highlighting the importance of researching specific site conditions before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near La Honda, CA?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near La Honda, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near La Honda, CA is Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED with a 4.7-star rating from 34 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dog-friendly camping near
La Honda, CA?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near La Honda, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 92 dog-friendly camping locations near La Honda, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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